Northern Arizona University contributes nearly $2 billion to the Arizona economy each year, according to a new study conducted by the Arizona Rural Policy Institute, a unit of NAU’s Alliance Bank Outreach Center.

The study shows that NAU contributes $1.85 billion in economic activity, which supports 20,300 Arizona jobs. Further, NAU’s 88,600 alumni pay more than $68 million in Arizona state income taxes, a figure related to their educational attainment.

NAU serves 27,000 students statewide and creates one in five jobs in Coconino County.